Quinoa Stew with Vegetables (Vegan & Gluten Free Recipe) (2024)

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Published on July 26, 2021 · Updated on January 1, 2022 · By Aysegul Sanford

This Quinoa Stew Recipe brings the spicy flavors of Peruvian cuisine to your table in less than an hour. Filled with garden-fresh veggies and protein-packed quinoa, you won’t believe how hearty this vegan dish is!

Make this quinoa vegetable stew to get in your daily dose of vegetables and plant protein with ingredients you probably already have in your pantry.

Yields: 6 Servings

Prep Time: 20 minutes mins

Cook Time: 30 minutes mins

Total: 50 minutes mins

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Quinoa Stew with Vegetables (Vegan & Gluten Free Recipe) (1)

Today, I come to you with a Quinoa and Vegetable Stew recipe that you can make all year round. Vegan and gluten-free, it is a hearty and nutritious soup/stew recipe adapted from America’s Test Kitchen and comes together in one pot.

Once you try this dish out, there are even more quinoa recipes for you to love. My Quinoa Chili and Mexican Quinoa are the healthy, delicious meals your recipe book has been looking for.

Quinoa Stew with Vegetables (Vegan & Gluten Free Recipe) (2)

Whether you’re making it for a weeknight dinner or a summer potluck, this Peruvian quinoa soup will have everyone asking for your recipe. It’s a great alternative to pasta that will double your nutritional value with protein-filled quinoa.

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Why I Love This Recipe

This quinoa vegetable soup is one of my favorite comforting stew recipes. Delicious, filling, and nutritious to boot, this hearty stew has so much to love:

  • Made in a single pot with simple ingredients in less than an hour, this hearty quinoa and vegetable stew is as low-maintenance as it is filling. Not to mention, it can be frozen for future meals.
  • This healthy vegetable stew is packed with nutrient-packed superfoods. In fact, quinoa is one of the only plant-based proteins that contain all nine essential amino acids, making it a great source of complete protein.
  • Vegan, gluten-free, and safe for most major allergies, this delicious stew is a godsend for anyone with dietary restrictions.
  • This crowd-pleasing dish comes from a classic Peruvian quinoa soup recipe, so you can explore the spicy, fragrant cuisine of South America from the comfort of your own kitchen!

Ingredients

One reason this quinoa vegetable stew recipe is so tasty is that its ingredients are both scrumptious and simple. Chances are, you already have each of these garden-fresh ingredients in your pantry.

Quinoa Stew with Vegetables (Vegan & Gluten Free Recipe) (3)
  • For vegetables, gather onion, red bell pepper, minced garlic cloves, red potatoes, corn, diced tomatoes, frozen blanched peas, and avocado.
  • For seasoning, you’ll need paprika, coriander, cumin, salt, pepper, and cilantro. Each of these spices adds flavor, depth, and body to your dish, so make sure you don’t skip these components.
  • For the quinoa, gather any kind of quinoa you’d like, being sure to rinse quinoa before cooking.
  • For cooking, gather olive oil and vegetable broth.

Substitutions

There’s no reason to start up a shopping list if you don’t have the exact ingredients listed in this quinoa stew. There are countless ways to play around with this recipe and make it your own.

  • Potato: Replace red potatoes with sweet potatoes or Yukon Golds to change up this stew’s texture and level of sweetness. You do not need to peel potatoes, but I recommend cutting them in a uniform size for even cooking.
  • Quinoa: Any type of quinoa will work for this Peruvian stew, whether it’s black quinoa, white quinoa, red quinoa, or tri-color quinoa. Whatever kind you pick, you can make it burst with flavor by using my favorite tips on how to make quinoa taste good.
  • Stock: If you’re low on vegetable stock, try out chicken stock instead. You can even use my fan-favorite recipe for homemade chicken stock so you can make it from scratch!
  • Bell pepper: Red, orange, or even yellow bell peppers will work in this quinoa stew. To add a touch of heat, try a seeded jalapeño pepper instead.
  • Corn: Fresh, frozen, or canned corn can be used in this no-fuss recipe.

How to Cook Quinoa Stew

Get out your pot, your garden veggies, and your spice rack because this delectable quinoa stew recipe is going to come together in a cinch!

Quinoa Stew with Vegetables (Vegan & Gluten Free Recipe) (4)
  1. Heat oil in soup pot: In a large pot,heat the olive oil over medium heat and then add the onion and bell pepper. Cook the two vegetables until they’re translucent (7-8 minutes), stirring frequently.
  2. Add the spices: Add the garlic, paprika, coriander, and cumin, and cook for 30 seconds. Stir constantly.
  3. Cook the potatoes: Add the broth and the potatoes, and bring the mixture to a boil. Then, turn down the heat to medium-low and let the stew simmer for 10-12 minutes.
  4. Cook the quinoa: Stir in the quinoa and let the mixture simmer until both the potatoes and the quinoa are cooked (8-10 minutes).
Quinoa Stew with Vegetables (Vegan & Gluten Free Recipe) (5)
  1. Add the corn and tomatoes: Stir in the corn and tomatoes and simmer for 5 minutes.
  2. Add the peas: Stir in the peas and simmer for 3-4 minutes.
  3. Remove from heat: Turn off the stove’s heat. Season the stew with salt and pepper to taste.
  4. Serve: Ladle the soup into bowls, and garnish each with avocado and fresh cilantro.

Variations

The best part about this dish is that it’s a great recipe to test out different styles, ingredients, and flavors. In my own experiences, shaking up this soup recipe is just as fun for me as it is for the hungry ones I am feeding.

  • Add a cup of fresh spinach or kale to give this vegetarian dish a gorgeous green and meet your healthy living goals.
  • If you are short on time you can use leftover cooked quinoa or even frozen quinoa. If you do so, you will need 3 cups cooked quinoa. You can add it in at the same time with the peas.
  • Turn this recipe into a crock pot vegetable stew by using your slow cooker instead of the stovetop. This dish cooks in 4 hours on the high setting or 6 hours on low. Add the quinoa in the last 20 minutes, and you’re good to go!
  • Top the stew off with tortilla chips to add a tasty crunch and fun Mexican flair.
  • Crumble some queso fresco atop each bowl for a refreshing and creamy addition every cheese-lover will appreciate.
  • Add a can of black beans for more of a Southwest Quinoa Stew.
  • As the stew cooks it gets a thick consistency. If you want it to have more of a soup-like consistency, feel free to add in one cup of additional broth/water.
Quinoa Stew with Vegetables (Vegan & Gluten Free Recipe) (6)

Storage, Freezing, & Thawing Instructions

With a crowd-sized portion ready in less than an hour, quinoa and vegetable soup is the perfect meal to save for later. Meal prep for a quick, healthy lunch or dinner the next day will be a breeze with these easy storage tips.

  • Storage: Quinoa vegetable stew can be stored in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days.
  • Freezing: Bring the stew to room temperature, put it in an airtight container, and place it in the freezer. The dish will stay fresh for up to 1 month.
  • Thawing: To thaw a frozen portion of stew, leave the sealed container in the fridge overnight. Once the stew has reached fridge temperature, heat it up using the stove or microwave.

PRO TIP: Because of its absorbent ingredients, this quinoa stew often loses liquid over time. If your stew becomes too thick, mix in ½ cup of water, vegetable stock, or chicken stock at a time until it returns to the desired consistency.

More Vegetable-Packed Soup Recipes You Might Like:

  • Vegetable Beef Soup
  • Chicken and Vegetable Soup
  • Vegan Chili recipe
  • Easy Chicken Chili

Quinoa Stew Recipe

Yields: 6 Servings

Prep Time: 20 minutes mins

Cook Time: 30 minutes mins

Total Time: 50 minutes mins

Quinoa stew recipe that is made in one pat. This hearty and easy to make soup recipe is vegan and gluten free.

Quinoa Stew with Vegetables (Vegan & Gluten Free Recipe) (7)

4.60 from 5 votes

Print Recipe

Ingredients

  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • 1 medium-size onion chopped
  • 1 red bell pepper cut into small cubes
  • 5 garlic cloves minced
  • 1 tablespoon paprika
  • 2 teaspoons coriander
  • 2 teaspoons cumin
  • 6 cups vegetable broth
  • 1 pound red potatoes cut into small cubes
  • 1 cup white quinoa washed thoroughly
  • 1 cup fresh or frozen corn
  • 1 can diced tomatoes (14 oz.)
  • 1 cup frozen peas
  • Salt and pepper
  • 1 avocado cut into small cubes
  • handful of fresh cilantro as garnish (optional)

Instructions

  • Heat olive oil in a Dutch oven (or any other large, heavy bottom pot). Add in the onion and bell pepper. Cook, stirring frequently, until translucent, 7-8 minutes.

  • Stir in the garlic, paprika, coriander, and cumin. Cook, stirring constantly for 30 seconds or so.

  • Add in the vegetable broth and potatoes. Bring it to a boil. Turn down the heat to medium-low and let it simmer 10-12 minutes.

  • Stir in the quinoa and let it simmer for 8-10 minutes until both the potatoes and quinoa are cooked.

  • Stir in the corn and tomatoes and let it simmer for 5 minutes.

  • Stir in the peas and let it cook for 3-4 minutes.

  • Off the heat, season with salt and pepper to taste. Ladle it in large bowls and garnish with avocado and cilantro before serving.

Video

Quinoa Stew with Vegetables (Vegan & Gluten Free Recipe) (8)

Notes

  • Storage: Quinoa vegetable stew can be stored in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days.
  • Freezing: Bring the stew to room temperature, put it in an airtight container, and place it in the freezer. The dish will stay fresh for up to 1 month.
  • Thawing: To thaw a frozen portion of stew, leave the sealed container in the fridge overnight. Once the stew has reached fridge temperature, heat it up using the stove or microwave.
    Because of its absorbent ingredients, this quinoa stew often loses liquid over time. If your stew becomes too thick, mix in ½ cup of water, vegetable stock, or chicken stock at a time until it returns to the desired consistency.

Nutrition

Serving: 1g | Calories: 398kcal | Carbohydrates: 52g | Protein: 13g | Fat: 17g | Saturated Fat: 4g | Cholesterol: 14mg | Sodium: 1212mg | Potassium: 1016mg | Fiber: 9g | Sugar: 10g | Vitamin A: 1752IU | Vitamin C: 57mg | Calcium: 178mg | Iron: 4mg

Course: Soup

Cuisine: Peruvian

Tried this Recipe? Tag me Today!Mention @FoolproofLiving or tag #foolproofeats!

This recipe is adapted (with minor changes) from America’s Test Kitchen’s The Complete Vegetarian CookbookQuinoa Stew with Vegetables (Vegan & Gluten Free Recipe) (9).

Like this recipe? Consider sharing:

You might also like:

  • Quinoa Power Bowl

  • Mexican Quinoa Recipe - One Pan

  • Turkey Pumpkin Chili with Quinoa

About Aysegul Sanford

Quinoa Stew with Vegetables (Vegan & Gluten Free Recipe) (13)

Hello Friend! I’m Aysegul but you can call me “Ice.” I’m the cook/recipe-tester/photographer behind this site.

If you’re looking for approachable yet creative recipes made with everyday ingredients, you’ve come to the right place. Here, we’re all about recipes that have been meticulously tested to provide you with a truly foolproof cooking experience regardless of your level of cooking.

Check out my about page to learn more about me.

Did you make a recipe? Be sure to tag @foolproofliving on Instagram so that I can see.

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Reader Interactions

    Leave a Reply

  1. Amy S

    Quinoa Stew with Vegetables (Vegan & Gluten Free Recipe) (16)
    I love all the healthy ingredients but this soup was very bland.

    Reply

    • Aysegul Sanford

      Thanks for your honest feedback Amy.

      Reply

  2. Lori Corradetti

    Quinoa Stew with Vegetables (Vegan & Gluten Free Recipe) (17)
    This is an example of the whole being greater than the sum of its parts. This exceeded my expectations and, not surprisingly, tasted even better the next day. This will be a regular weeknight meal. It comes together very quickly. I didn’t have peas so i added more corn and I used fire roasted tomatoes which gave the dish a deepness without a smoky flavour.

    Reply

    • Aysegul Sanford

      Hi Lori,
      This makes me SO happy. I am thrilled to hear that you enjoyed it.
      I agree with it being better the next day. And I love the idea of adding roasted tomatoes.
      Thanks for coming by and taking the time to leave a review.
      Very much appreciated.
      Cheers,
      Aysegul

      Reply

  3. Alanna

    Quinoa Stew with Vegetables (Vegan & Gluten Free Recipe) (18)
    This looks so hearty and nourishing! Love all of these summer flavors. <3

    Reply

    • Aysegul Sanford

      Thanks my friend. I am happy to hear that you liked it.

      Reply

  4. Judith

    Beautiful photos and thanks for the recipe. Trying it tonight!

    Reply

    • Aysegul Sanford

      Thank you Judith. I hope you’ll like it. This vegetable stew is a favorite in our house..:)

      Reply

  5. Lisa McGinley

    I made this last night – we had Without Meat Wednesday instead of Meatless Monday. I swapped out some of the vegetables with what I had on hand. It was delicious and will feed us again tonight. Thanks for the recipe! It’s a keeper.

    Reply

    • Aysegul Sanford

      Hi Lisa,
      It makes me so happy to hear that you guys enjoyed this stew. I love the fact that it is so versatile.
      Thanks for letting me know.:)

      Reply

  6. Stephanie

    Looks delicious! I love that you and your friend took photos of the food you made, must have been fun! Love the lighting in these photos too!

    Reply

    • Aysegul Sanford

      It sure was fun.. 🙂
      Thank you Stephanie!

      Reply

  7. Emilie @ The Clever Carrot

    Quinoa Stew with Vegetables (Vegan & Gluten Free Recipe) (19)
    Aysegul, what a wonderful way to spend quality time with a friend. I bet she was delighted (and curious) as to how you create such beautiful pictures and food! A quinoa-based vegetable stew sounds wonderfully nourishing and the colors are a feat in itself. I love the frozen veggie option (but now you’re making me want fresh corn!). Thank you for sharing your recipe with us! xo

    Reply

    • Aysegul Sanford

      Thank you Emilie.. We had a fantastic time together. Noone really knows how much work we put into creating these blog posts until they help create it.. No? 😛

      Reply

  8. Chrissann

    Quinoa Stew with Vegetables (Vegan & Gluten Free Recipe) (20)
    This looks and sounds amazing – can’t wait to try it out!

    Reply

  9. Alnis

    Wau a great vegetable stew and your Pictures are the best!
    Alnis
    http://alnisfescherblog.com

    Reply

    • Aysegul Sanford

      Thank you Alnis.. 🙂

      Reply

Quinoa Stew with Vegetables (Vegan & Gluten Free Recipe) (2024)

FAQs

Can you add uncooked quinoa to soup? ›

Absolutely! Quinoa is quick cooking, so you can add it to a soup dry and it will cook up beautifully along with the other soup ingredients. It is perfect for adding a little texture (and protein) to a soup. Quinoa does absorb a good amount of liquid, so it is great for making a thicker soup (almost stew) consistency.

How long does it take to cook quinoa? ›

Rinse quinoa in a fine mesh sieve until water runs clear. Transfer quinoa to a medium pot with water (or broth) and salt. Bring to a boil, then lower heat and simmer, uncovered, until quinoa is tender and a white "tail" appears around each grain, about 15 minutes.

What happens if you don't rinse quinoa before cooking? ›

Rinsing quinoa definitely starts to hydrate the seeds. Flavor – In terms of flavor, the unrinsed quinoa definitely had a nuttier, earthier flavor, but I didn't find it bitter at all. The rinsed quinoa was definitely milder and the flavors more muted.

Why should you soak quinoa before cooking? ›

*Soaking grains helps to remove some of the naturally occurring phytic acid in the grain, which helps improve digestibility and speed cook time. To soak: Rinse quinoa thoroughly then add to a large mixing bowl or pot and cover with twice the amount of lukewarm water (2 cups water, 1 cup quinoa).

Do you cook quinoa covered or uncovered? ›

Because it is a seed, quinoa absorbs water differently than other grains. To make it fluffy, cook it uncovered at a low simmer. Once it's tender and no water remains in the bottom of the pot, cover it.

How long to soak quinoa before cooking? ›

Soak your quinoa in at least twice as much water, and a glug of raw apple cider vinegar for 8-10 hours. Drain it and rinse it well with fresh water. Transfer the quinoa to a pot and add enough water to moisten the grains and just barely cover.

How do you make quinoa taste good? ›

Cook in vegetable, beef, or chicken broth: Cooking quinoa in vegetable, beef, or chicken stock is probably the easiest way to flavor it. You can simply swap the water with your choice of stock and use the same amount to cook your quinoa. Alternatively, if you prefer, you can also use half water and half stock.

Is there a downside to quinoa? ›

Like anything, you should eat quinoa in moderation. For example, overeating fiber can lead to an upset stomach, gas and bloating, constipation and diarrhea.

How does quinoa burn belly fat? ›

How Quinoa Helps In Weight Loss? Rich dietary fibre and protein increase metabolism, and that makes quinoa good for weight loss. Cooked Quinoa contains five grams of dietary fibre per cup. Eating high fibre foods is often the missing piece when a person is trying to shed weight.

Is it OK to eat quinoa everyday? ›

You can eat one-two cups of cooked quinoa in a day. You should avoid eating it if you experience stomachache, itchiness or vomiting after consuming it. A study by Harvard Public School of Health has reported that eating a bowl of quinoa daily is healthy and without any side effects.

Can you put uncooked quinoa? ›

Quinoa can be eaten raw or uncooked if it is first soaked and sprouted, but some experts advise that quinoa should always be cooked, not consumed as a raw sprout. It is equally nutritious in sprout form, but cooking may be a safer and more versatile way to include it in your diet.

Does quinoa need to be cooked? ›

Quinoa can be eaten raw or cooked, but it is most often eaten cooked. Quinoa is frequently used as a substitution for rice because it also takes on the flavor of what it is cooked with. Salads, tacos, and skillet dishes often incorporate quinoa.

Can you cook quinoa in broth instead of water? ›

The basic ratio is 1 cup quinoa to 2 cups liquid. You can use water (season it with a bit of kosher salt), or you can use any kind of broth (we like to use low-sodium broths and add any extra salt to the finished dish as needed). You can also add a bit of dry white wine to the liquid for another layer of flavor.

Does quinoa absorb broth? ›

Then, once the mixture is boiling, decrease the mixture to a gentle simmer so that you can still see some bubbles, but the mixture is no longer boiling. Now, let simmer until the quinoa absorbs all of the broth or water- this should take approximately 10-20 minutes depending on how much quinoa you are making.

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